How do I cite a TikTok video in APA?

To cite a TikTok video in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a TikTok video in APA?

In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Cook, 2021)

How to Cite a TikTok Video in APA (7th edition)

Learn how to cite TikTok videos and creator posts in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

APA Reference List Format

Here is the standard APA format for citing a TikTok video in your reference list:

Creator, A. A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the caption [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/xxxxx

APA Example for a TikTok Video

A complete APA reference for a TikTok video, written by hand and checked against the official APA guidance for this source:

Cook, P. [@chemteacherphil]. (2021, September 17). Fighting fire with fire. #sciencetok #learnontiktok [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@chemteacherphil/video/7008953610872605957

Matching in-text citation: (Cook, 2021)

APA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Cook, 2021)

Narrative

Cook (2021) demonstrates…

Key APA Formatting Rules

Give the creator’s real name, inverted with initials, followed by the @username in square brackets; for a group account use the group’s name, as in Washington Post [@washingtonpost].
Use the first 20 words of the caption as the italic title, keeping the creator’s spelling, capitalization, hashtags and emojis.
Add [Video] after the caption; if the video has no caption, give a description in square brackets as the title instead.
Give the posting date as (Year, Month Day), name TikTok as the site, and end with the video’s own permalink.
A TikTok profile is cited differently: use n.d., the first 20 words of the bio, [TikTok profile] and a retrieval date.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your TikTok video.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

creator's name and @handle
caption text, including hashtags
posting date
video permalink
date you viewed it

Common metadata traps

Copying the profile URL or a vm.tiktok.com share link gives the reader the wrong page; use the full tiktok.com/@handle/video/ number of the video itself.
The song or sound credited at the bottom of a TikTok is not its author; the author is the account that posted the video.
Rewriting the caption in title case or dropping its hashtags changes the title; keep the caption exactly as the creator wrote it.

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a TikTok video in APA?: To cite a TikTok video in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the APA format for a TikTok video citation?: The APA format for a TikTok video is: Creator, A. A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the caption [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@username/video/xxxxx
What does the in-text citation look like for a TikTok video in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Cook, 2021)